VERMILION RESERVATION — Bois Forte Chair Carlos Hernandez, who was elected in June to fill the vacancy left by the resignation of Cathy Chavers, led off his first-ever State of the Band address with a short speech he wrote for his swearing-in last summer. That ceremony was postponed and he never delivered the words he had written.
Hernandez said that the Bois Forte Reservation has been his home for over 20 years now.
“I came home to connect with my culture. This is the community that raised me to be the man I am,” he said, noting he sits among band members, not above anyone.
“Our language, our land, and our teachings are not relics,” he said. “They are living. They must live on in our policies, our budgets, and our decision making.”
Hernandez went on to thank all the tribal employees who show up every day, working to keep the Bois Forte nation moving forward. He said the tribal council was working to strengthen communications between departments and also working to respect decision-making processes of those departments.
“Our departments are filled with talented professionals,” he said. “They deserve the trust and support for the work they are trained to do. We want the council to listen to recommendations from our staff, and make responsible decisions, but respect the expertise and effort of our employees.”
Hernandez spoke about the Constitution of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribes and the work being done right now to make changes to this document, specifically on the issues of blood quantum, which determines tribal membership. He invited band members to become part of the process.
“These discussions will shape the future of our nation,” he said. “The future of our nation should never be decided in empty rooms but be shaped by the voices of our people.” That line prompted a large round of applause by the full house attending the event.
Hernandez reminded band members that “self-governance is a responsibility.”
He talked about Fortune Bay Resort Casino, which he said is the most important economic driver for the band.
“We are working to make sure Fortune Bay remains strong and competitive,” he said. He also talked about the band’s cannabis dispensary, now one year-old, which is a new opportunity for economic diversification.
“The response from our community and customers has been strong,” he said, “and a grow facility would allow us to produce our own products.”
Hernandez highlighted recent infrastructure projects that are benefiting the community, such as the new Big Woods Transit garage, food shelf space at Vermilion, and the new DNR building in Nett Lake which includes a wild rice storage space.
He talked about challenges with housing and the need to create more stable housing options for band members.
He talked about the importance of the band’s ties to their lands.
“Generations who came before us … they stood on this same land, fished these waters, harvested rice, carried our language, traditions, and identity through times that were not easy,” he said. “We are only here for a short time, but our decisions will shape the future of Bois Forte for many generations.”
Speaking of history, Hernandez recalled the remains of three young band members, who had been buried on the grounds of the Genoa Indian School in Nebraska. He noted that the remains of the children, who had been taken from their homes and sent to an Indian boarding school, had recently been identified in a burial field.
“Raymond, Edgar, and Mary,” he said. “We speak their names so they are never forgotten. We remember and honor these children as part of our nation. Their spirits remain as part of our people.”
Hernandez concluded by focusing on the future.
“We have much work to do,” he said. “Economic diversification, strengthening our infrastructure, and addressing housing challenges. The work we do today is for the next ten to 20 years. I see a strong nation, thriving businesses creating opportunity, our language being spoken, and young leaders stepping forward.”
“Together we will build a future.”

Financial updates
Tara Geshick, the elected secretary/treasurer, told those assembled that 2025 was a year of transformation.
“We are redefining what financial governance looks like for Bois Forte,” she said. “For the first time in decades, we are operating on a financial system built for modern tribal governance.”
She noted that the backlog of annual financial audits will be up to date by the end of this year.
“Systems are in place and under our control,” she said. She noted the band is now receiving federal dollars for 21 of the tribally owned buildings to help pay for maintenance, and the band had now received over $1.2 million plus interest of money owed by Indian Health Services.
“We have built meaningful financial reserves of $2.5 million. This is a critical step to long-term stability,” she said.
The band is also investing in leadership training for board members, and they are working to develop a tribal council manual of policies board members should follow.
Geshick said the band has paid off the loan for the Y Store and is moving to place that property into trust status.
She spoke about the tribal emergency of the loss of our language. “We need to invest in cultural programming.” She spoke about the need to update blood quantum policies and gain autonomy from the federal government for decision-making of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribes.
She also spoke about the need for environmental protection.
“We need to save the Boundary Waters,” she said, to a large round of applause. “When we move together, we move farther.”
She also spoke about the importance of “holding space” for those who are struggling with homelessness, mental health issues, and addiction. To everyone walking the path to recovery and healing. We see you. We honor your strength. Recovery is a lifelong journey,” she said. She also recognized the challenges some band members have been facing due to the ICE surge in the Twin Cities, and to all those impacted by MMIR (Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives).

Other speakers
Tribal council members Robert Moyer, Janeal Goggleye, and Shane Drift also spoke.
Moyer said seeing all those in attendance reminded him of what they are doing this work for…to support and connect with our band members.
Goggleye, who is new on the council, talked about planning for the band’s next strategic plan to “align us around common long-term goals, ensure proactive decision-making, set financial planning, integrating traditional values into future planning, and identifying new economic opportunities.” She talked about the need to be truthful and transparent. “I will continue to ask questions and ask for clarifications,” she said.
Drift talked about the challenges the band has faced the last eight years, including government shutdowns, COVID-19, and state budget cuts.
“We must strive to become more self-sufficient financially,” he said. “This can become a reality.”
Drift, who was a major advocate for the cannabis business, said he would like the efforts to expand into a growing business.
“If we do things the right way, this would be a huge game-changer for the reservation and our future.” He talked about some lower cost technology available to start a cannabis growing business.
“We still have an opportunity to get into this market,” he said. He added that the band can explore buying cannabis from its own band members, as well as looking at other areas to build dispensaries.
Drift also wants the band to continue to push to get protection for historic and sacred sites, including near Rainy Lake and in the Chisholm/Hibbing areas, as well as continuing to work on securing treaty rights, including those granted by the 1866 treaty.
“We need to plan for the next seven generations,” he said. “The key word is action.”
He also wants the band to become a part of the helium mining project, which could grant further income to the band.
The afternoon program was led by Miranda Lilya, the band’s executive director. Jaylen Strong, who runs the Bois Forte Heritage Center, gave the invocation, and the Makade Migizi Drummers opened the program and also performed an honor song for the council members.